Cuomo signs Grisanti legislation to support local craft beer industry

State Sen. Mark
Grisanti, R-60, announced Wednesday that Gov. Andrew Cuomo has signed a
package of laws to support the craft beer industry. This legislation
will help increase demand for locally grown farmer products, support
local breweries and wineries, and expand industry-related economic
development and tourism.

The laws keeps intact a tax benefit for
small beer breweries, exempts those that produce small batches of
beer from paying an annual state Liquor Authority fee, and creates a
"Farm Brewery License" so craft breweries can expand their
operations through opening restaurants or selling beer-related
products.

Grisanti sponsored the original bill,
S. 5829, which sought to help small craft breweries expand their
operations to include shops or restaurants.

"The Empire State
needs to become a more business-friendly state and the economic
stimulus in this package of laws moves us in the right direction,"
Grisanti said. "I applaud Governor Cuomo for demonstrating his
support of both the agriculture industry and small businesses by
helping to ease the tax burden on these essential job-creating and
growing areas. Local beer breweries will especially find these
targeted tax breaks provide the opportunity for more diversification
to expand their businesses and market their products just like
wineries."

"In addition to producing some of the finest
beer in the world, New York's craft breweries are creating jobs,
supporting our state's farmers and hops growers, as well as bringing
in tourism dollars in local communities across New York," Cuomo
said. "The legislation signed today demonstrates that the new
New York is truly working for small business, as this law will allow
breweries and wineries the opportunity to invest in new opportunities
and expand their operations. I commend the bill sponsors and
legislative leaders for their work on this important law."

New
York will protect a tax benefit for breweries with this legislation.
Any brewery that produces 60 million or fewer gallons of beer in New
York will now be eligible for a refundable tax credit applied against
New York state personal income and business taxes. Also, small
breweries will now be exempt from paying the annual state Liquor
Authority fee. Breweries that produce brands of 1,500 barrels or less
annually (regardless of location) are now exempt from the $150 annual
brand label fee.